Pro Gajate Bracket

Artist

Richie "Gajate" Garcia

Richie Gajate-Garcia has conducted more than 450 clinics and remains one of the most in demand educators and clinicians. He is the author of “Play Cajon Now: The Basics and Beyond and is currently teaching at Musician’s Institute. Garcia has recorded and/or performed with Christopher Cross, Sting and Phil Collins, as well as worked on film scores for Jennifer Lopez' new film "Maid in Manhattan". He has toured with Diana Ross, Don Henley, Patti LaBelle, and Hiroshima. "I constantly look for new sounds," he says, "and I'm not completely partial to any one instrument, which I feel adds color and appeal to my playing". Richie knows that percussion was a natural career choice for him. "I'm Puerto Rican, and percussion instruments are found all throughout our culture." Richie made the decision to play music full time while attending college at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Richie's main influences were his father (a percussionist with The Xavier Cugat Orchestra), Armando Peraza, Monchito Munoz (timbalero with Tito Rodriguez), Changuito, Candido Camero and Giovanni Hidalgo. Richie collaborated with LP to create the popular Gajate Bracket and the RIchie Gajate-Garcia Signature Series Congas, Bongos and Djembe.